CourageCourage

CourageCourage 1 minute quick write… what is your 1 minute quick write… what is your

definition of courage?definition of courage? Dictionary Definition: the quality of mind or Dictionary Definition: the quality of mind or

spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.fear; bravery.

Quote:“To be yourself in a world that is Quote:“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson

What does this quote mean to you?What does this quote mean to you?

CourageCourage 6 People of Courage 2012 Espy’s

Peer PressurePeer Pressure It’s easy to say, “Peer pressure doesn’t have any effect on It’s easy to say, “Peer pressure doesn’t have any effect on

me.” However, the truth is, what people think of us often me.” However, the truth is, what people think of us often influences how we think and act.influences how we think and act.

1. You attend a party at someone’s house and most of the 1. You attend a party at someone’s house and most of the people are smoking marijuana. Your friend passes you a people are smoking marijuana. Your friend passes you a joint. What do you do? How does your answer differ if it is a joint. What do you do? How does your answer differ if it is a can of beer?can of beer?

2. A student copied down the answers to a test and then 2. A student copied down the answers to a test and then offered them to students taking the same test later that offered them to students taking the same test later that day. Would you consider turning this person in? Would you day. Would you consider turning this person in? Would you accept these answers and cheat?accept these answers and cheat?

3. If you saw a friend teasing or picking on another student 3. If you saw a friend teasing or picking on another student because they were overweight, not cool enough or wore a because they were overweight, not cool enough or wore a different style of clothes, would you say or do anything to different style of clothes, would you say or do anything to stop them? If so, what?stop them? If so, what?

Peer PressurePeer Pressure Normative: Most teenagers want to have friends Normative: Most teenagers want to have friends

and fi t in with a certain group of students. It’s the and fi t in with a certain group of students. It’s the reason you see cliques at school and why certain reason you see cliques at school and why certain fads come and go. People jump on the bandwagon fads come and go. People jump on the bandwagon with certain clothes, hairstyles or activities with certain clothes, hairstyles or activities because somebody deemed them temporarily cool. because somebody deemed them temporarily cool. This is normal behavior. Each generation has its This is normal behavior. Each generation has its own style or fad. Some of this peer dynamic will own style or fad. Some of this peer dynamic will diminish with age, but adults do this too – usually diminish with age, but adults do this too – usually with houses, cars and accessories. with houses, cars and accessories. What are some recent fads?What are some recent fads?

Positive: Peer pressure doesn’t always have to be Positive: Peer pressure doesn’t always have to be negative. Friends can pull you up, just as easy as negative. Friends can pull you up, just as easy as drag you down. Here are two examples:drag you down. Here are two examples:

Positive Peer Pressure - The Pact

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFjTPaDVxSU&feature=related 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYvzuub_cvE

“We know firsthand that the wrong friends can lead you to trouble. But even more, they can tear down hopes, dreams and possibilities. We know, too, that the right friends inspire you, pull your through, rise with you.”

“The lives of most impressionable young people are defined by their friends, whether they are black, white, Hispanic or Asian; whether they are rich, poor or middle class.”

“Among boys, particularly, there seems to be some macho code that says to gain respect, you have to prove that you’re bad. We suspect that many of the young boys we treat in our hospitals are entangled in friendships that require them to prove their toughness and manhood, even at the risk of losing their lives.”

- Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt, authors of “The Pact”

Peer PressurePeer Pressure Positive Peer Pressure - Flight 93 Watch these clips about Flight 93 and what they

decided to do on September 11, 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-

viMzr2nac&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz9BTKO_plI Negative Peer Pressure - No Snitchin Clips

from 60 Minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTwipn-Fp_U

Negative Peer Negative Peer PressurePressure

Negative: Peer pressure can have negative and troubling Negative: Peer pressure can have negative and troubling effects. For example, a recent study (The Kaiser Family effects. For example, a recent study (The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003) found that boys face particular pressure Foundation, 2003) found that boys face particular pressure to have sex, often from male friends who put them down for to have sex, often from male friends who put them down for waiting.waiting. One in three (33%) boys ages 15-17 say they feel pressure to One in three (33%) boys ages 15-17 say they feel pressure to

become sexually active, compared with 23% of girls.become sexually active, compared with 23% of girls. The pressure to drink alcohol was greater for boys than girls. The pressure to drink alcohol was greater for boys than girls.

The pressure to use drugs was about the same for boys and The pressure to use drugs was about the same for boys and girls.girls.

Teenagers have inflated perceptions that “everyone is Teenagers have inflated perceptions that “everyone is doing it.” This puts unnecessary pressure on them to fi t in doing it.” This puts unnecessary pressure on them to fi t in because the numbers of students who are having sex, because the numbers of students who are having sex, drinking alcohol and using drugs aren’t as high as they drinking alcohol and using drugs aren’t as high as they perceive.perceive.

Do boys experience more negative peer pressure than girls?Do boys experience more negative peer pressure than girls?